MINSK, 17 March (BelTA) – The talks about possible nationalization of businesses in Belarus are rumors, Belarus Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Guryanov said in an interview to the Lithuanian newspaper Verslo Zinios, BelTA has learned.
“I would say that such talks are just rumors, the same old story as they say. For a rather long period of time we have been trying to convince our partners to face up to reality, and get a clear picture of the situation. The period of redistribution of the public and private assets was over long ago. In fact, nowadays there is privatization in those industries where there are interested investors. Therefore, there is privatization rather than nationalization today,” Alexander Guryanov said.
By the way, in present conditions the state does not have enough resources for nationalization, the deputy foreign minister added. “In order to preserve jobs and solve social issues we are ready to provide state assistance to entrepreneurs, to discuss with them the possibility of raising the state share. But even in such cases nationalization is out of the question,” he said.
Alexander Guryanov said in an interview that there are about 600 companies which are entirely or partially owned by Lithuanian businessmen in Belarus. In Lithuania there are about 250 companies with the Belarusian capital. These companies include manufacturing enterprises, services providers and trade facilities. For example, there is an assembly plant for Belarusian tractors, exporters of Belarusian-made oil products and tires in Lithuania.
Alexander Guryanov also said that the volume of Lithuanian investments in Belarus is on the rise. For instance, last year the investments made up $240 million. “It is good that the majority of these investments are long-term. Companies with the Lithuanian capital invest in the Belarusian wood processing, retail trade, construction, farm production, processing of biological wastes,” Alexander Guryanov noted.
“I would say that such talks are just rumors, the same old story as they say. For a rather long period of time we have been trying to convince our partners to face up to reality, and get a clear picture of the situation. The period of redistribution of the public and private assets was over long ago. In fact, nowadays there is privatization in those industries where there are interested investors. Therefore, there is privatization rather than nationalization today,” Alexander Guryanov said.
By the way, in present conditions the state does not have enough resources for nationalization, the deputy foreign minister added. “In order to preserve jobs and solve social issues we are ready to provide state assistance to entrepreneurs, to discuss with them the possibility of raising the state share. But even in such cases nationalization is out of the question,” he said.
Alexander Guryanov said in an interview that there are about 600 companies which are entirely or partially owned by Lithuanian businessmen in Belarus. In Lithuania there are about 250 companies with the Belarusian capital. These companies include manufacturing enterprises, services providers and trade facilities. For example, there is an assembly plant for Belarusian tractors, exporters of Belarusian-made oil products and tires in Lithuania.
Alexander Guryanov also said that the volume of Lithuanian investments in Belarus is on the rise. For instance, last year the investments made up $240 million. “It is good that the majority of these investments are long-term. Companies with the Lithuanian capital invest in the Belarusian wood processing, retail trade, construction, farm production, processing of biological wastes,” Alexander Guryanov noted.
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